Issues: Health Care

Here is a partial listing of bills I have supported this session to aid New York’s former servicemen and servicewomen. These initiatives will now go to Governor Cuomo for final action.

-- Legislation I co-sponsored was passed by both houses (S.7839, first introduced as S.4714)) to extend the Military Service Credit Law of 2000 to all veterans who have served in the military. Right now, public employees who served in the armed forces may purchase up to three years of pension credit only if their military service occurred during specified conflicts. This measure will expand this opportunity to public employee veterans who also served their country in peacetime.

Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases are on a sudden, sharp rise in New York, causing a public health concern that has my attention and that of my Senate colleagues.

In St. Lawrence County, the frequency of Lyme disease cases jumped 41 percent in 2013, when compared to the previous three year average. It increased 34 percent in Oneida County and 4 percent in Lewis County.

On the last day of the 2014 session, I was honored to have the opportunity to speak on the floor of the Senate regarding my vote in favor of the Compassionate Care Act. I am proud to have been part of a bill that will bring relief to people suffering from serious illnesses.

Sen. Krueger speaks on S. 7234B, her legislation to increase education, screening, diagnosis, and treatment of maternal depression disorders. This bill passed both houses and now awaits the governor's signature. For more information, read this press release!

Sen. Krueger and Assembly Health Committee Chairman Richard Gottfried today announced the unanimous passage of legislation in both the Senate and Assembly that would provide education and promote screening and treatment-referrals for postpartum depression and other maternal depression disorders (S. 7234B / A. 9610B). Despite the widespread nature and severity of maternal depression, our healthcare system has had no system-wide screening and referral procedure.

The New York State Senate today passed legislation that will help doctors and patients treat the symptoms of Lyme and other chronic diseases. The bill (S7854), sponsored by Senator Kemp Hannon (R, Nassau), was among the recommendations in a report released today by the Senate Majority Coalition’s Task Force on Lyme and Tick-Borne Diseases.

Senator Bonacic visited the Sullivan County Relay for Life event, held on June 7, 2014, and sponsored by Crystal Run Healthcare. This event honors cancer survivors, remembers those we have lost, and raises funds and awareness to fight back against cancer.

With the Senator is (l) Mary DeFreitas, Chief Human Resources Officer for Crystal Run; and (r) Joan Patterson, RN, Director of Nursing/Rock Hill. Deb Polin, one of the Relay for Life Team Captains is at the far right.

(Brooklyn, NY) – Last week, the State Senate passed Senate Bill S.1353, by Senator Kevin Parker. The bill requires that prisoners be informed of healthcare, mental healthcare and other services upon their release from state prison. In an attempt to make their reintegration into society as seamless as possible, and to safeguard our community’s public health and welfare, the former prisoners will be alerted to special programs in their communities, such as tuberculosis services, HIV/AIDS services, education, alcohol or substance abuse treatment, and other general mental health services.

Sen. Krueger applauded the Senate Labor Committee’s passage today of her legislation banning employers from discriminating against employees on the basis of their personal reproductive health decisions (S. 6578B). Sen. Krueger called on the Senate majority’s co-leaders to follow up on this positive step by allowing a floor vote on the bill before the close of the 2014 session.

Here’s a straightforward, but deceptively hard question: You’re deciding between two doctors for your upcoming heart surgery. One has advertised as being “board certified” by the American Academy of Cardiology. The other, you learn, was certified by the American College of Cardiology. Which one would you trust with the scalpel? (The answer is at the end of this column.)

If you’re hemming and hawing about your answer, take comfort. You are not alone. It is so easy to get confused about the qualifications of medical professionals – and your life may depend on it.

I believe the medical profession needs more truth in its advertising. I’ve introduced a bill that would protect the patient by implementing four small changes.

Senator Bonacic met with constituents (l to r) Jessica Koock, Cindy Tangney and Eileen Konieczny recently at the District Office to discuss the Compassionate Care Act (SB4406) which would legalize marijuana for a certified medical use, and could only be administered by a certified patient or designated caregiver. The Senator advised them that he would support the bill if it came to the Senate floor.

"I'm pleased to once again help educate my colleagues in state government about lupus. I advocate in memory of my aunt, who was afflicted by this devastating autoimmune disease. Lupus affects more than 1.5 million Americans - 100,000 of them live right here in New York. And yet, there's so much we still don't know about it. We need to find a way to diagnose the disease quicker, to treat it effectively and to wipe it out completely." - Sen. Joe Griffo

April is National Minority Health Month. Senator Parker welcomes New York State Department of Health Associate Commissioner Yvonne Graham, Director, Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities Prevention.

Listen as they discuss the health inequities among various populations and how her office works plan to address these specific issues 2013-2017.

For more information about the Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities Prevention, please call 518-474-2180 or visit www.doh.gov.